Apparatus for separating dust from air



(No Model.)

E. KUEHNE.

APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING DUST PROM AIR.

Patented Dec. 30, 1884.

INVENTOR WITNESSES 0 35. cm

ATTORNEY mumo hqr. wmm w". v.0.

ilnrrnn rarns ATENT ERNST KUEHNE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

APPARATUS FOR-SEPARAT!NG DUST FROM AIR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 309,96, dated December 30, 188 4.

A pplication filed April 16, 1884.

To aZZ whom, it may concern: Be it known that 1, ERNST KUEHNE, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Ghi cago, count-y of Cook, and State of Illinois, have invented new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Separating Dust from Air, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, illustrating the invention, in which Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of a dustseparator embodying myinvention; Fig. 2, a perspective representation of the air-receiving end of the conveyer, showing how one compartment is closed at the end and the means for discharging the dust from the dead-air compartment. Fig. 3is an elevation of the opposite end of the conveyer, showing also the plate which closes the other end of the dead-air compartment. Fig. 4 shows the brushes, which may be attached to the spiral of the conveyer to gather the dust, and the flexible attachment on the other spiral to shut off the passage of air across the dead-air chamber.

The purpose of the present invention is to provide better means for separating dust contained in air, but more especially the dust in flouring-mills as it comes from middlingspurifiers, or otherwise. One method for attaining this end at the present time is by centrifugal force, which drives the dust against a fabric or perforated plates, which will permit the air to pass through, but catch the dust; also, air containing the dust has by direct force been driven againsta fabric which catches the dust and permits the air to pass through. The objections to these devices are, the first mentioned is too expensive and requires too much power, and the second mentioned takes up too much room, and at best is imperfect, allowing dust to escape.

I claim to have discovered and put into practical use amachine which, obviates these objections. The compartment of the conveyer which receives the air and dust is open from end to end; but the compartment through which the dust is conveyed is closed at both ends, and the dust is discharged through the periphery of the case. Better to facilitate the (No model.)

the wider spiral, and an elastic or flexible packing is attached to the narrow spiral, both to run against the case ora roughened flexible lining in the case. Further than this, to prevent so long a conveyer as might otherwise be required, a reactionary air-chamber is placed at the air-discharge end of the conveyer, and above this chamber and communicating with it is placed a fan to regulate the'velocity with which the air is to escape. In someinstancesas, for example, where there exists a strong blast into the conveyer, as where it connects with the discharge-pipe of a middlings-purifier-I find it preferable to fit the conveyer to operate in a case having the form of a truncated cone; but for all ordinary purposes a conveyer constructed to rotate in a cylindrical case will well answer the purpose, the enlarged air-discharge at the tail of the conveyer being wholly for the expansion of air, so as to lessen its outward velocity before leaving the conveyer.

In the construction shown in the drawings the dust is discharged at or near the air-receiving end of the conveyer. This is only that the conveyer shall rotate so as to react against the receiving-blast instead of acting with it. I regard that there are some advantages in running the conveyer in this way, but it will answer a good purpose if run in an opposite direction and the dust discharged at the other end. All these reactionary conditions or'appliances only enable me to use a much shorter conveyer; but this sometimes is important on account otthe limited space to be devoted to the occupancy of the apparatus. In carrying these principles into practice I employ a double-spiral conveyer, A B-that is, two separate spiral plates are twisted around a shaft-that there may be an open continuous air-passage through one compartment, A, and a closed compartment, B, for gathering and conveying the separated dust to a discharge-pipe, O. The shaft E to the conveyer has suitable bearing at or near its ends, and it is driven by aband-wheel, F, from fifteen to twenty revolutions per minute, or at any other rate of speed which best suits the conditions attending different dusts.

To attain the discharge of the dust and prevent the blast fromentering the discharge-pipe C, a band, 11, is placed on the end of the com veyer, so that itsperiphery will come even with the exterior of the spirals. It is also provided with a semi-disk, H, at the end, as shown in Fig. 2; also, a hole, S, is formedin it in such a position that at each revolution of the band it will come opposite to a hole in the case D, and allow the dust to escape into discharge-pipe O. The opposite end of chamber B is closed by semi-disks K, as shown at Figs. 1 and 3.

1? represents the feed-chamber, which extends to the lower periphery of the case D, so that the compartment A may be filled at every point in its revolution. On the top of this chamber 1? is placed the discharge-pipe O of the middlings-purifier.

lVhere the apparatus is employed for other purposes than separating dust coming from a purifier, the air and dust may enter this same pipe. At the opposite end of the conveyer is an air-chamber, L, which allows the air freely' to expand and have its current broken before its exit therefrom. A fan, M, is placed above this chamber, and is used with the shorter conveyer to assist in breaking the direct current of air before leaving the conveyerthat is, the air-blast from this fan coming against or cross ing the current from the conveyer partially breaks its direct force as it leaves the conveyer. The narrower spiral is provided on its edge with packing or flap Q,for the purpose of forming an easy joint against the case D. On the wider spiral is placed a brush or series of brushes, N, for gathering the dust into chamber B. Any other well-known means may be employed to attain this end, if desired; but I find the brushes and leather a simpler and cheaper means than the fitting of the exterior of the conveyer to the case with sufiicient accuracy to shut a blast from chamber B and gather the dust at the same time. The brushes and leather can be readily replaced when worn, and are therefore the more desirable means.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim to be new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. In apparatus for separating dust contained in air, the case D, the double-spiral conveyer containing an open compartment, A, for the passage of air, and the closed compartment B, for gathering the dust, and the dis charge-pipe G, substantially as and for the purpose herein specified.

2. The combination of the case,D with the truncated double compartment conveyer adapted to cause the expansion of air in its outward passage to lessen the force of the current, as specified.

3. The combination of the double-compartment conveyer A B, constructed substantially as specified, with the case D, and a reactionary air-chamber, L, placed at the air-exit end of the conveyer to assist inv breaking the current of air in short conveyers, substantially as specified.

4. The case 1) and double-compartment conveyer A B, constructed substantially as specified, in combination with the reactionary fan M and chamber L, substantially as described.

5. The combination of case D, dischargepipe 0, and double-compartment conveyer A B, provided with the band H, having a hole through which the dust is discharged, said band also operating to prevent the blast from entering the discharge-pipe, substantially as specified.

6. The case D and double-compartment conveycrA B, in combination with the feedchamber l, which extends to the lower periphery of the said case D for admitting air atany point of the revolution of the conveyer, substantially as specified.

ERNST KUEHNE.

\Vitnesses:

G. L. OHAPIN, A. G. Money. 

